Tragt organisationale Partizipation zur gesellschaftlichen Demokratisierung bei?

In: Journal für Entwicklungspolitik, Heft 3

Abstract

In this paper we discuss assumptions that are taken for granted in discourses on solidarity economy and organizational participation. One is that organizational participation contributes to the democratization of society-independently from the context. Based on our own empirical results, we argue in contrast that the relation is better conceptualized as a tension instead of a determination. Our studies also support arguments against the opposing causal assumption that 'real' participation can only serve employees' interests 'after capitalism'. Our conclusion is that we should dispense with causal thinking in terms of 'participation effects'. It's all about 'coevolution in context'. And the institutional context is not only shaped by capitalism. As our results furthermore indicate, whether organizational participation contributes to social democratization or not depends on how stakeholders deal with the (unintended) side-effects of good intentions in instances of solidarity economy. Adapted from the source document.